Centering and quadding device



Jan. 18, 1955 T. H. ENGLISH 2,599,363

CENTERING AND QUADDING DEVICE Original Filed July 19, 1948 4 Sheets-Sheet l JNVEN TOR.

$4 THOMAS H. ENGLISH BY Jan. 18, 1955 T. H. ENGLISH 2,699,863

v CENTERING AND QUADDING DEVICE Original Filed July 19, 1948 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 ,& g 5,; m INVENTOR.

Q k Q BY THOMAS H. ENGLISH 7 J Jan. 18, 1955 T. H. ENGLISH CENTERING AND QUADD ING DEVICE Original Filed July 19, 1948 4 Sheets-Sheet 5 gwwm THOMAS HENGLISH United States Patent 2,699,863 CENTERING AND QUADDING DEVICE Thomas H. English, Atlanta, Ga.

Original application July 19, 1948, Serial No. 39,505, now Patent No. 2,666,520, dated January 19, 1954. Divided and this application December 9, 1953, Serial No. 397,246

3 Claims. (Cl. 199-50) This invention relates to a line forming and type casting machine and more particularly to an attachment for a type casting machine for automatically centering and quadding lines of matrices prior to the casting operation.

This application is a division of my original application Serial No. 39,505, filed July 19, 1948, now Patent No. 2,666,520, and its claims are directed to the pump control means as applied to mechanisms of this character.

Machines of the type with which this invention is employed, such as Linotype machines, assemble matrices to form a line of print and move a complete line to a casting position where the matrices are justified to the desired measure between jaws of a vise prior to the casting operation. When a short line of type is formed, it is necessary for the operator to fill the line with quads in order that the line will be held tightly between the jaws of the vise during the casting and thereby prevent flow of the molten metal between the matrices. Similarly, it is necessary for the operator to fill a line with the proper number of quads on each side of the line of matrices when a line is to be centered, as in the headlines of a newspaper.

Some of the more modern type casting machines have been provided with apparatus which allows automatic centering and quadding of the matrices. It is necessary, however, to completely rebuild the vise mechanism of the older machines in order to install the automatic quadding and centering attachments heretofore available. In addition to the high cost of the prior attachments, it was necessary to take the machine out of operation for extended periods while the attachment was being in' stalled.

It is an object of this invention to provide an automatic spacing attachment for type casting machines which may be easily and quickly installed on old line assembling type setting machines.

It is also an object of this invention to provide an automatic quadding attachment for type casting machines in which the required quadding to fill out either end of the line for the setting of type around cuts; for advertisement and commercial printing composition; for filling but ends of paragraphs, etc., is accomplished by movement of the jaws of the casting vise.

Another object of this invention is to provide an attachment which will allow automatic centering of a short line of type.

A further object of this invention is to provide an attachment which will automatically indent short lines of type and justify the short line at the desired measurement.

Still another object of this invention is to provide an attachment to facilitate the changing of the measure of a line of type.

An additional object of this invention is to provide an attachment for releasing the pump stop, permitting casting of the line, from a movable right vise jaw.

With these and other objects in view as will become apparent in the following detailed description, this invention resides in an attachment for a line assembling and type casting machine in which the matrices are held in the casting position between movable jaws which may be set at a definite pica or random measure. A selector control is provided to allow the centering or quadding to 'the left or right as is desired by the operator of the machine of short assembled lines of matrices.

Figure l is a front elevation of the attachment showing the elevator of the type casting machine in phantom.

Figure 2 is a perspective view of the trip mechanism for releasing the mechanism driving the jaws of the vise.

Figure 3 is a plan view of the attachment in which the first elevator of the type casting machine is shown in phantom.

Figure 4 is a diagrammatic View of the expansion control apparatus.

Figure 5 is an end elevation illustrating the driving means for the jaws and the apparatus for locking the jaws in place during the casting operation.

Figure 6 is a rear elevation of the pump stop releasing attachment.

Figure 7 is a horizontal sectional view along section line 7-7 in Figure 5 showing the apparatus for operating separately the locking means of the individual vise aws.

Figure 8 is a plan view of the gear arrangement for the driving means for the jaws.

Figure 9 is a front elevation of the pawl locking the jaws in place during the casting operation.

Figure 10 is a front elevation view of the locking means for the operating mechanism with the cover plate removed. I

Figure 11 is a plan view of the control and braking means therefor with parts of the control broken away.

The attachment comprising this invention may be installed on a conventional Linotype line forming and casting machine and receives power for its operation from that machine. In Figure l the first elevator of the type casting machine is shown in phantom and indicated by reference numeral 1. Directly in front of the elevator is an operating bar 2 which slides horizontally in a casing 3 to move a driving rack 4 secured to one end of the opcrating bar 2. The rack 4 engages a pinion gear 5, illustrated in Figure 8, which delivers the power necessary to move the jaws of the vise through a suitable gearing mechanism hereinafter described. The motive power for operating bar 2 is derived from a spring 6 connected by means of a line 7 passing over pulleys 8 and 9 to the elevator 1. As the elevator descends, it stretches the spring 6 which exerts a force on the operating bar 2 and the driving rack 4. p

The operating bar 2 is held in a normally cocked position by means of a detent 10, illustrated in Figure 10, which engages a catch 11 on a plunger 12 slidable vertically within the casing 3. The plunger 12 is urged upwardly by a compressed spring 14 bearing against the base of the casing 3 in order that the side of the catch 11 will engage the detent 10. The upper end 13 of the plunger is stepped for control of the operation of the plunger as hereinafter described. A channel 15 extends across the face of the plunger 12 immediately above the catch 11 to allow the detent 10 on the operating bar 2 to pass when the plunger 12 is depressed.

A guide 16 is slidably mounted on the upper surface of the casing 3 directly behind the plunger 12 in the manner shown in Figure 1. The guide 16 has a concave upper surface for the reception of a guide pin 17 which depends from an arm 18 best illustrated in Figure 2. The arm 18 is free to pivot horizontally about a bolt 19 which supports it from bracket 20 secured to the elevator 1. A tripping finger 22 is also connected to the arm 18 and extends downwardly therefrom substantially parallel to the guide pin' 17. The guide pin 17 engages the upper surface of the guide 16 to swing the arm 18 horizontally about bolt 19 and thereby fix the position of the tripping finger 22 to control the operation of the mechanism in the manner hereinafter described.

An arm 23 extends laterally from the riglrthand side of guide 16 (see Figures 1 and 3), and is connected with a lever 24. The lever 24 is in turn linked with an arm 25 which pivots about a pin 26 supported by the frame work 27 attached to the Linotype machine. Arm 25 is slotted at 28, remote from the lever 24, for operative connection with a rod 29 which slides horizontally in its support 30. In alignment with the rod 29 for engagement therewith is an expansion rod 32 which is operatively connected to the assembler, indicated diagrammatically by 31, of the line .forming and type casting machine to move to the left, in Figures 3 and 4, to engage the rod 29 when a line is fully assembled. Expansion rod 32 has a slide clamp 33 on its end adjacent rod 29 to allow the adjustment of the ..-eifective length of the rod 32 and provide an expansion to a pica measure for accurate control of the expansion allowance in the assembler.

A spring 35 is attached to the side of guide 16 opposite arm 23 and to the frame 27 to the left of the guide 16 in Figure 1. The spring 35 is under tension and constantly urges guide 16 towards the left and, consequently, rod 29 toward slide clamp 33.

Movement of the guide 16 to the left is prevented by a finger 37 which extends from the side of the guide directly above the spring 35. The finger 37 engages a cam 38 mounted on a rod 39 connected to a flipper 40 which is conventional on linotype machines for controlling the downward movement of the elevator when the auxiliary characters on the matrices are to be cast. When the flipper is turned to the position for casting of the auxiliary characters, the cam 38 allows the spring 35 to draw the guide 16 to the left of its normal position.

In order to prevent movement of the guide after its position has once been fixed for the casting of a single line of type, a brake 42 is pivotally mounted on the frame 27 and bears against the back surface of the guide 16 as shown in Figure 11. A leaf spring 43 extends from the frame 27 to the end of the brake 42 remote from the guide 16 and constantly urges the brake against the guide. The brake 42 exerts a small force against the guide 16 which allows it to move under the positive force exerted by rod 29 through linkage 23, 24 and 25, but does not permit the force of spring 35, or vibration of the machine, to move the guide 16. A head 44 (see Figure 11) on the brake 42 near its connection with the spring 43 extends backwardly beyond the frame 27 to engage a cam 45 which is secured to the elevator. As the elevator ascends, the cam 45 engages the head 44 and releases the brake 42 to allow the spring 35 to return the guide 16 to its normal position The cam 45 extends diagonally across the elevator 1 of the line forming and type casting machine in the manner illustrated in Figure 1 and engages a roller 46 which is secured to the operating bar 2. As the elevator ascends, the cam 45 engages the roller 46 to move the operating bar to the right to the cocked position in which the detent 10 will engage the catch 11 and hold the operating bar 2 in place. The beveled surfaces of the detent 10 and the catch 11 allow free movement of the operating bar to the right by compressing the spring 14. However, once the detent 10 has passed over the catch 11, spring 14 lifts the plunger and locks the operating bar 2 securely in place. Movement of the operating bar 2 after the catch has been released may be limited by an adjustable stop 47 which is preferably mounted in a block 48 on the front of the casing 3. The block 48 on the front surface of the casing 3 is equipped with any suitable clamp 49 for holding the stop 47 tightly at any desired position. The stop 47 is graduated in pica measure on a scale 50 to allow accurate adjustment of the movement of the operating bar 2, and consequently, of the jaws of the vise. If the line is to be of random length, stop 47 should be moved to the left where it will not be engaged by operating bar 2 and will not limit the movement of that bar.

The operating bar 2 is connected to the rack 4 by means of any suitable adjustable connection indicated by 52. The connection 52 allows adjustment of the rack 4 with respect to the operating bar 2 in order that the scale 50 on stop 47 will indicate accurately the movement of the jaws of the vise. Referring to Figure 8, the rack 4 engages a pinion which is se cured on a shaft 53. Shaft 53 is free to turn in either direction, and is supported by the walls 54 of the housing indicated generally by 51 enclosing and supporting the driving mechanism. The shaft 53 is free to slide axially as well as rotate in the housing.

indicator handle in the center position.

A spur gear 55 and a second pinion gear 56 are also secured to the shaft 53 for rotation therewith. The spur gear 55 engages a second spur gear 57 of the same diameter which is mounted on a shaft 58 parallel to shaft 53 to rotate the shaft 58 in a direction opposite the rotation of shaft 53. The shaft 58 is also supported by the walls 54 ofthe housing 51 in a manner permitting axial movement as well as rotation. A pinion gear 59 having the same diameter as pinion gear 56 is keyed to the shaft 58 for rotation therewith.

Shaft 58 extends through wall 54 of the housing51 for a short distance and has a head 60 on its end spaced from the housing. A compressed spring 62 rides on the shaft 58 and bears against the head 60 and the wall 54 of the housing 51 and urges the shaft to the left to the normal position shown in the drawings. The end of the shaft 58 remote from the head 60 has a dial 63 with a scale 64 on its face attached thereto by means of a set screw 65. A collar 66 rides on the shaft 58 between the dial 63 and the walls 54 of the housing 51 to limit the axial movement of the shaft towards the left in Fig. 8 resulting from the compression of the spring 62.

Referring to Figure 5, a rack 67 is slidably supported in tracks 68 in the housing 51 directly below the pinion gear 59 and meshes therewith. The rack 67 is connected to a base 69 of a jaw 70 of the vise in which the matrices are held during the casting operation. The base 69 is secured to the rack 67 by any suitable means indicated by reference numeral 71 in Figure 3. The jaw 70 is rigidly secured to the base 69 which is free to slide horizontally in the conventional opening, not shown, in the vise head of the linotype.

Pinion gear 56 engages a rack 72 similar to rack 67 which slides horizontally in tracks 73 in the housing 51 directly below the pinion 56. The rack 72 may be connected directly to the base 74, or the base and rack may be joined by a connecting rod 81 as is shown in the drawings. Any suitable means, such as 76, are provided for connecting the base 74 with the rack 72 which will allow adjustment of the base relative to the position of the rack 72. In this manner it is possible to adjust the distance between the jaws 70 and 75 to correspond accurately with the scale on the dial 63 indicating the measure between the jaws of the vise and thereby allow exact setting of the measure at the desired pica by means of the dial 63.

It is preferred that racks 4, 67 and 72 and pinion gears 5, 56 and 59 have teeth with pica or half-pica spacing. All of the pinion gears should have the same diameter and gear spacing, and the spur gears should have the same diameter in order that movement of the rack 4 will cause an exactly equal movement in the engaged racks 67 and/or 72, as will hereinafter be described.

Referring to Figure 1 of the drawings, a selector rod 77 is supported by a trunnion 78 mounted on the upper surface of the housing 51 at one end and by frame 27 at the other end. A selector handle 79 is keyed to the rod 77 at the end adjacent the frame 27. The indicator handle 79 moves along a selector scale 80 which is apertured at 82, 83 and 84 as illustrated in Figure 5. The indicator handle 79 is equipped with a pin 85 extending from one end thereof which is urged outwardly from the handle by a spring, not shown, within the handle for insertion in the apertures in the selector scale 80. Aperture 82 corresponds to the right quadding position of the attachment, aperture 83 to the centering position, and aperture 84 to the left quadding position. V

The selector rod 77 is connected at its end remote from the selector handle 79 to a linkage 86 joining the rod to a control bar 87. Referring to Figure 8 of the drawings, it will be noted that the control bar 87 is U- shaped and bears against both ends of the shaft 53 to move it along its axis in the housing 51 to the desired position.

The driving mechanism is shown in Figure 8 with the It will be noted that the pinion 5 is centered above the rack 4 and is approximately three times as wide as rack 4. The spur gear 55 is approximately twice as wide as the spur gear 57 with which it meshes and the righthand faces of the two spur gears are in alignment when the indicator is 111 the center position. Thepinion gears 56 and 59v are approximately twice as wide as the racks 72 and 67 with which they mesh. When the indicator is in the center position, the lert face or pinion gear so is in alignment with the left edge of raclt '72. the right race of the pinion gear 59 is in alignment with the right face or raclt 01 when the shaft be 18 in the "normal" position 7 to which it is urged by the spring 62.

in the center position illustrated in l igure 8, any movement or the IZICK 4 will turn the pinion and cause movement of both racks 6'7 and '12 through the intermediate gears. if the selector handle is changed to the right quadding position, the shaft 53 will be moved to the right oy the control 87 to disengage the pinion gear so from the reel; '12. Any movement of the race. a will then be transmitted through the pinion gear 5, spur gears 55 and :57, and the pinion gear 39 to the rack 6/ to move the left jaw towards the stationary right jaw of the vise. if the indicator handle '79 is moved to the left quaddihg position, the shaft 53 is moved to the lert and spur gear 55 is moved out of engagement with spur gear :t'i. through pinion and shaft to pinion gear so which drives the rack 72. The rack 72 moves the right jaw of the vise towards the left jaw for the left quadoing operation. lhe disengagement of the spur gears no and 57' allows the left jaw to remain stationary.

The measure between the jaws of the vise when the operating bar is in the cocked position may be ad usted by means of dial 63 and shaft 58. The selector control handle '19 is set at the center position and the dial is pulled to the right in Figure 8, compressing spring 62. The movement of the shaft 58 to the right disengages spur gears 55 and 57 and allows rotation of pinion gear 59 while pinion gear 56 remains stationary. Dial 63 may then be turned, thereby turning pinion gear and moving the rack 67 to adjust the left jaw of the vise to the desired measure. A pointer 88 extends across the scale 64 to indicate the measure at which the jaws are being set. Release of the handle 63 will allow the spring 62 to return the shaft 58 to the normal position, and the pointer 88 will indicate the measure of the line.

In order to allow accurate alignment of the type at an exact pica measure during the casting operation, it is necessary to lock the jaws firmly in place just prior to the justification of the line of type and hold them firmly in place during the justification. For this purpose the racks 67 and 72 are provided with ratchet teeth 69 having a pica or one-half pica spacing along their bottom surface. Pawls and 91 are positioned directly below the racks 6'7 and 72, respectively, and are adapted for vertical movement in the housing 51. The pawls 96 and 91 move upwardly between the tracks 68 and '73 on which the racks travel.

Referring to Figure 9 of the drawings in which pawl 90 is illustrated, a sliding member 94 comprising the main body of the pawl moves obliquely upward in d1- agonal channels 95 in the housing 51. A latching member 96 extends vertically upward from the upper surface of the sliding member 94 and is urged upward from sliding member 94 by a compressed spring 97. The upper surface of latching member 96 is serrated to form ratchet teeth 98 which will engage the ratchet teeth 89 on the lower surface of the rack 67. For further support of the latching member 96, a vertical shoulder 99 is provided extending upwardly from the sliding member 94 and against which latching member 96 slides. A second shoulder 100 extends horizontally at the lower end of the pawl 90 to bear against the housing 51 and limit the upward movement of the pawl.

Referring to Figure 7, means are provided to force the pawls against the rack when the rack is disengaged from the driving means to hold the jaw in a definitely fixed position. A lug 102 extends outwardly from the pawl 90 into achannel 103 in a bearing block 104. The bearing block 104 is mounted upon a locking rod 105' which is slidable vertically through the housing 51 to a position above the top surface of the housing. The pawl 91, which is similar to the pawl 90 in construction with the exception that the diagonal movement is in the op posite lateral direction, is supported in a similar manner by a locking rod 107 and a bearing block 108. A releasing spring 106 is positioned on rod 107 between the upper surface of the bearing block 108 and the bottom of the housing 51 to constantly urge the bearing block, and, consequently, the pawl 91, downward. A spring,

Movement of the rack 4 is then transmitted not shown but similar to spring 106 and obscured by it in Figure 5, constantly urges the bearing DIOCK 104 downwardly. A guide rod sun is provided between the two bearing blGGKS 101 further support or the blocks as they move vertically.

Loosing rod the passes between the prongs 110 and 112 or a bell crank 113 pivotally supported on the top surface of the housing 51. 'lhe bell crank 113 is connected by suitable limlage indicated generally by 116 to the selector rod 7/. When the selector handle 19 is turned to the left quadding position by inserting pin 85 in aperture as, the bell crank lever 113 is turned and the prongs slit; and 112 bear against a nut 11'] on the upper end of the locking rod 111:. The bell crank lever lifts the rod 105 and bearing block 104, which engages the lug 102 and thereby hits the pawl 90. As the pawl moves upward, the teeth as in the latching member 96 contact the teeth 69 on the raclt. Further upward movement of the pawl 9o will result in compression of the spring 97 and the latching member 96 will slide laterally until ratchet teeth as and 69 are meshed. Perrect fitting or the ratchet teeth is insured, and the left jaw '70 or the vise is held iirmly in place. As mentioned above, when the indicator handle 79 is set for the left quaoding position, the spur gears 55 and 57 are disengaged and the raclt 72 is then free to move independently or the rack 67.

A similar locking mechanism is provided for locking the right jaw in the right quadcting position. A bell crank leVCl' 113 has prongs 119 and 120 extending beyond the locking rod 1W. As the selector handle 79 is turned to the lOCKlHg position, a linl'tage indicated generally by 121 rotates the bell crank 11b and lifts the locking rod 107 to lock the right jaw '75 in place. When the indicator is positioned for right quadding, the bell crank 113 is lowered and releasing spring 106 drops pawl from engagement with the ratchet teeth on the bottom of the rack 67. The pinion gear 56 is disengaged from the rack 72 and the spur gears 55 and 57 mesh to drive the rack 67 independently of the rack '72.

Both jaws must be locked prior to line justification and during casting. if left or right quadding is being done, one jaw is hand locked in the manner already described; if centering, neither is hand locked; the device will lock either or both as required before the cast- 'mg operation. For this purpose bars 122 and 123 are pivotaily supported at one end by a hanger 1241 which depends from the housing 51. The bars 122 and 123 are positioned directly below the locking rods 105 and 1b! and bear against the lower ends of the rods to control their downward movement. Justification springs 125 are suspended from studs 127 protruding from the housing 51, and are attached to the bars 122 and 123 near their end remote from the pivotal attachment to hanger 124. The springs 125 are normally under tension and constantly urge the bars 122 and 123 upwardly. The force exerted by springs 125 is greater than that exerted by releasing springs 106 and 108 and will overcome the force of those springs to move the pawls into position to lock the racks 67 and 72 when the bars are free to move upward.

When stop 4-7, Figure 1, previously described, is not employed to control jaw movement and allow lines to justify at an exact pica measure, either or both jaws will travel until resisted by a line of matrices or by one another. In such case pawls 90 and 91 rise in diagonal channels 95 to engage racks 67 and 72 as hereinbefore described and wedge the jaws to the random distance necessary to justify the line and release the pump stop, whether or not spacebands are in the line.

A connecting rod, indicated by reference numeral 129 in Figure 5, is connected to the end of each of the bars 122 and 123 remote from their attachment to hanger 124. The connecting rods 129 are secured at their lower ends to the vise closing lever 130 (see Figure l) which is part of the line assembling and type casting machine. Generally it will be preferable for the connecting rods 129 to be slotted at 131 at their upper end for the reception of a pin 132 engaging the upper end of the slot and the bars 122 and 123. The connecting rod 129 willthen prevent upward movement of the bars 122 and 123 and thereby allow releasing springs 106 and the releasing spring on the rod 105 to maintain the pawls in the unlocked position when the vise closing lever is in its depressed position.

7 At the time the vise closing lever rises prior to the ustification of the assembled matrices, the connecting rod 129 will rise and allow the force exerted by the springs 125 to move the bars 122 and 123 upwardly. The upward movement of bars 122 and 123 forces the locking rods 105 and 107 upward. The pawls 90 and 91 are thereby moved upward into position. to engage the ratchet teeth 89 on the lower surface of the racks 67 and 72 to lock the jaws firmly in place. In some instances it will be desirable to provide a spring .133 engaging a washer 134 to the upper surface of which a pin 135 is secured on the connecting rod 129. When the vise closing lever rises, the spring 133 will exert a force in addition to the forces exerted by justification springs 125 to urge the pawls more firmly to the justification point.

Referring to Figure 6, an attachment is illustrated for displacing the stop which normally prevents operation of the pump of the line forming and type casting machine forcing the casting metal through the mold spouts when the matrices are not packed tightly between the jaws of the vise. The right jaw 75 of the vise is attached to the base 74 by means of a parallel linkage 136. The linkage 136 is adapted to allow upward movement of the jaw 75 when horizontal pressure is exerted against its vertical face 137. Since this attachment is designed for automatic left or right quadding or short lines, both of the jaws 70 and 75 are provided with elongated horizontal arms 138 and 139. respectively, which block the mold front, not shown, into which mold the molten metal passes from spouts in its rear during the casting operation.

A rocker 140 is supported directly above the arm 139 'of movable jaw 75 by means of a pin 142 extending from a bracket 143 which is rigidly supported from the line assembling and type casting machine in any suitable manner. The rocker 140 has a bearing surface 144 which is urged against the upper surface of arm 139 by a com pressed spring 145. Since the jaw 75 moves horizontally, rocker 140 is in a position to be operated by the arm 139 of the jaw 75 regardless of its movement during the quadding and centering operations.

The end 146 of the rocker 140 opposite the bearing surface 144 is tapered downwardly and engages a post 147 extending from a pump stop lever system indicated generally by 148. The pump stop lever system is of the conventional type employed by the line forming and type casting machines now available and permits operation of the casting pump when the post 147 has been displaced from its normal position. The jaw 75 is illustrated in Figure 6 in the raised position in which the pump stop lever is displaced from the normal position.

When the justification lever rises to justify the assembled matrices held between the vise jaws 70 and 75, movement of the spacebands in the assembled line of matrices will exert a force against the face 137 of jaw 75. Similarly, force is exerted by the wedging action of the pawls 90 and/or 91 as previously described. This force will move the jaw 75 upwardly on parallel linkage 136, and the upper surface of the arm 139 will raise the bearing surface 144 of the rocking arm 140. The tapered end 146 of the rocker 140 will then rotate downwardly and will displace post 147 to the left in Figure 6, and the pump stop lever system 148, to allow the pump to operate.

The attachment comprising this invention will be used the great majority of the time for the left quadding operation with the selector handle 79 set at position 84 on the selector scale. In this position the pawl 90 will engage the rack 67 to lock the left jaw 70 firmly in position. The spur gears 55 and 57 will be disengaged to allow shaft 53 to turn while shaft 58 remains stationary. The slide clamp 33 is then adjusted to be spaced from the rod 29 any distance which the operator of the machine prefers to allow justification by expansion of the spacebands in the assembled line of matrices. Ordinarily, in a 30- ;ica measure the spacebands will allow expansion of about picas.

If a line of matrices extending to a point within the expansion allowance is assembled, the assembler of the line forming machine will move expansion rod 32 to the left and the slide clamp 33 will bear against the rod 29 and actuate arm 25 which, through lever 24, moves the guide 16 to ,the right. As the elevator descends, the guide pin 17 is directed into the guide 16 and rotates arm 18 which moves the tripping finger 22 to the right to a position where it will not engage the upper surface 13 of the plunger 12. Thus the catch 11 on the plunger 12 holds the operating bar in position and the attachment does not operate when a line within the expansion allowance is assembled. The brake 42 engaging the face of the guide 16 exerts sufficient braking force to hold the guide 16 against the force of spring 35 as the elevator descends and thereby maintains the tripping finger 22 in the non-operation position.

If a short line is assembled, the slide clamp 33 will not engage rod 29, and the guide 16 will be left in the normal position. As the elevator descends, the guide pin 17 will enter the guide 16 and direct the tripping finger 22 against the upper surface of the plunger 12 to depress the plunger and release the operating bar 2 for movement to the left. Since the spring 6 is attached to the elevator, it will be under tension as the elevator descends and will exert a force urging the operating bar 2 and driving rack 4 to the left. The rack .4 will engage the pinion gear 5 which turns the shaft 53 to move the jaw 75 until it engages the assembled matrices to accomplish the left quadding operation. As the vise closing lever 130 rises, as controlled by the timing mechanism of the type casting machine, the pawl 91 will engage the rack 72 and lock the right jaw in place. The justification bar of the machine will engage the spacebands between the matrices for justification of the assembled line. Wedging action of the pawls and 91, previously described, also effects justification, with or without spacebands. Either will exert a force against the face 137 of the jaw 75 to release the pump stop and allow the completion of the casting operation. After the casting operation, the elevator will rise and the cam 45 will engage the roller 46 to return the operating bar 2 to the cocked position. The cam 45. will also engage the head 44 on the arm of the brake 42 to allow free movement of the guide 16.

The attachment of the spring 6 to the elevator allows the tension on the spring to be released as the elevator starts to ascend. Tn this manner, the force urging the jaws together is released after casting to allow easy removal of the matrices from the vise. Moreover, resistance to the elevator rising is minimized, as is a tendency for the jaws to close after removal of the matrices from the vise.

If it is desired to left quad to a line of a definite measure, the stop 47 is set to control the amount of movementof operating bar 2. When the plunger 12, is depressed to release the operating bar 2, the bar 2 will then move until it engages the end of the stop 47 and a line of a definite measure will be formed. If an insufficient number of matrices have been assembled to form a line ofthe desired measure, no pressure will be exerted against the face 137 of the jaw 75 during the justification, and the pump stop will not be released.

The right quadding operation is accomplished in the same manner as the left quadding with the exception that the handle 79 is set at the right quadding position. This will lock the right jaw 75 in place and disengage the driving mechanism to allow movement of the left jaw 70 towards the right jaw 75 while the right jaw remains stationary. As in the case of the left quadding operation, the attachment of this invention does not operate when a line of the desired length is assembled, but merely allows the normal justification of the linotype machine to proceed.

If the selector handle 79 is set at the centering position, neither of the jaws is locked in place and both racks 67 and 72 engage the driving mechanism. If a line of matrices of the proper measure is assembled, the assembler will move rod 32 to the left in Figure 4 and the expansion slide clamp 33 will actuate the linkage to move the guide 16 to the right and cause the tripping finger 22 to pass to one side of the plunger 12. If a short line is assembled, the guide 16 will remain in the center position and tripping finger 22 will engage the upper surface 13 of the plunger 12 and release the mechanism locking the operating bar 2. The operating bar will then move the rack 4 to the left and thereby cause jaws 70 and 75 to move towards each other. The jaws will move until they engage the assembled line of matrices and will then be locked in place during the justification operation. Since the driving mechanism for the two jaws have identical gearing, each of the jaws will move an equal distance for the automatic centering operation.

In the event it is desired to automatically indent a llne, such as when a passage is quoted, the stop 47 will be set for the desired indentation. The operating bar 2 w1ll then move until it engages the stop 47 to move the jaws for indentation the desired amount.

Should it be desired to cast the auxiliary characters on the matrices, the flipper 40 will be turned to a position to limit the downward movement of the elevator. When the flipper is turned, cam 38 will be rotated and will then allow the spring 35 to move the guide 16 to the left. At this position, when a short line is assembled, the guide pin 17 will direct the tripping finger 22 against the top step on the upper surface 13 of the plunger 12 to disengage the catch 11 from the detent and permit movement of the operating bar 2. The jaw driving and locking means will then operate in exactly the same manner as when the regular characters are cast.

When it is desired to change the measure of a line, the selector handle 79 is set at the centering position to disengage pawls 90 and 91 from the ratchet teeth on the lower surface of racks 67 and 72. The gears in the driving mechanism will then be in the position illustrated in Figure 8. The dial 63 is then pulled to the right in Figure 8, thereby compressing the spring 62 and moving the shaft 58 to the right. This disengages the spur gear 57 from spur gear 55 but pinion 59 remains in engagement with the rack 67. The dial 63 is turned to the desired measure, as indicated by scale 64, and is then released. The spring 62 will return the shaft 58 to the normal position illustrated in Figure 8. In this manner the left jaw 70 of the device is moved independently of the right jaw to adjust the distance between the jaws to the desired measure. The pica or one-half pica pitch of the gears on rack 70 allow the pinion and rack to be re-engaged at an exact pica measure.

The adjustments herein described allow automatic centering and quadding of short lines and matrices which have been assembled in a type casting machine. It thus becomes unnecessary for the operator of the machine to fill the lines with quads and the time required for casting type, especially in closing paragraphs and centering headings, is greatly reduced.

While this invention has been described in detail with respect to a particular modification of the automatic quadding and centering attachment, it is to be understood that the concept of this invention is not limited to those details, but is determined by the scope of the appended claims.

I claim:

1. In a line assembling and type casting machine in which the assembled line of matrices is held between the jaws of a vise during justification while molten metal is pumped into the matrices, pump control means comprising a pump stop, a vise jaw supported on a movable rack with a parallel linkage to permit vertical movement of the jaw as pressure is exerted thereon, a lever system extending from the jaw to the pump stop, said lever system being supported from the type casting machine in a position to be actuated by movement of the jaw as pressure is applied to its face and release the pump stop.

2. In a line assembling and type casting machine in which a pump stop prevents operation of a casting pump when the assembled line of matrices is not held tightly between the jaws of a vise, the improvement in pump stop releasing means comprising a jaw of the vise mounted for slight upward movement as a horizontal force is exerted against the jaw during justification of the assembled line of matrices, and a lever system connected to the pump stop actuated by upward movement of the jaw to release the pump stop.

3. In a line forming and type casting machine in which assembled matrices are justified and held between the jaws of a vise while molten metal is pumped against the matrices in the casting operation and a pump locking system prevents the flow of molten metal into an unjustified line, an improved pump stop release comprising a jaw of the vise having an elongated horizontal member, a movable base on which the jaw is mounted, a lever system extending from the pump stop to a position vertically spaced from but adjoining the elongated horizontal member of the jaw, a parallel linkage connecting the jaw with the base whereby a force exerted horizontally on the face of the jaw moves the elongated horizontal member vertically to engage the lever system and release the pump stop.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,067,543 Pearce et a1 July 15, 1913 1,944,852 Sperry Jan. 23, 1934 1,971,400 Frolander Aug. 28, 1934 2,051,804 Albrecht Aug. 25, 1936 2,372,407 Trejo et al. Mar. 27, 1945 2,392,558 Souche Jan. 8, 1946 2,642,180 Krusberger June 16, 1953 2,666,520 English Jan. 19, 1954 

